Global Report on the Right to Decide

Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) reflects a fundamental shift in thinking: it asserts that with support all people with intellectual disabilities are able to make decisions and have control in their lives. Independent But Not Alone: A Global Report on the Right to Decide presents the perspective of people with intellectual disabilities and our families on the right to decide.

Over the past two years, over 600 self-advocates, family members, disability advocates, and professionals participated in discussions motivated by Inclusion International’s Global Campaign on the Right to Decide. Additionally, we heard from more than 80 organizations from more than 40 countries worldwide.

Self-advocates said:

we want to be heard and we want to make decisions about how we live our lives.

Families said:

we need help in supporting our family members with intellectual disabilities to have the right to decide.

Key Findings

Invest in empowerment, self-advocacy and strengthening a collective voice

Independence does not mean “alone”

Families have a critical role to play in building the social connections necessary for supported decision making

Family based organizations must play a leadership role as agents of change in community

The Right to Decide cannot be achieved without community inclusion

The Right to Decide is about more than the removal of guardianship and substitute decision making

Legal reform must go hand in hand with strategies for building community supports and supports for decision making